Four closed fitness tests open the 2026 NHL Draft Combine on Thursday at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo for prospects including Gavin McKenna.
Daily Schedule Breakdown
Teams receive official measurements of 2026 draft-eligible players such as Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, Chase Reid, Caleb Malhorta and Keaton Verhoeff throughout the week at the KeyBank Center and LECOM HarborCenter.
Thursday and Friday feature four closed fitness tests: Y-balance, grip strength, isokinetic squat strength and aerobic fitness.
Top prospects face media scrums on Friday afternoon while management and scouts conduct interviews.
Saturday shifts to open fitness testing for musculoskeletal and anaerobic fitness plus full media availability and standing height plus wingspan measurements.
The NHL draft follows on June 26 and 27 in the same Buffalo venues.
Retained And New Tests
The pro agility test stays along with bench press, pull-ups, horizontal jump, force plate vertical jump, grip strength and Wingate cycle ergometer plus classic VO2 max aerobic tests.
Two additions arrive in 2026: the isokinetic squat test and the 10-meter sprint.
The isokinetic squat requires prospects to push against specialized machinery that matches force output at constant speed across full range of motion to isolate maximal lower-body strength.
The 10-meter sprint records acceleration from a standstill with two attempts per player and the faster time counted.
Historical Records For Context
Jack Hughes posted the highest pull-up total since tracking began with 19 repetitions at the 2022 combine.
Easton Cowan set the pro agility record at 4.07 seconds in 2023.
William Horcoff recorded the longest horizontal jump of 124.80 inches in 2025.
Sean Farmer’s 196.9-pound grip strength mark from 1995 stands as the longest-standing record.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.